Automatic trailer coupling



Dec. 12, 1933. J. ROCKINGER, JR

AUTOMATIC TRAILER COUPLING Filed March 3, 1932 Fig. .2

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 1,939,463

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,939,463 AUTOMATIC TRAILER COUPLING Johann Rockinger, Jrl, Munich, Germany Application March 3, 1932, Serial No. 596,464, and in Germany July 5, 1930 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-3315) The invention relates to an automatic trailer- Now, when in coupling the coupling eye It coupling, especially for motor-vehicles, the coupushes against the arm of the lever a extendpling-member being provided with a clutch-bolt ing into the box m, said lever presses with its guided vertically and adapted to be lifted from other arm on the lever b, so that the latter is 5 the drivers seat. The clutch-bolt is kept in the swung from the position of Fig. 1 into the posilifted position by a locking device adapted to tion of Fig. 2, whereby the lever d loses its supbe disengaged when both vehicles are coupled, port and jumps downwards owing to the action and consisting of a lever-arrangement. of spring c, carrying with it the clutch-bolt f Known automatic trailer-couplings of this and guidin i i t the coup n ve T kind have the disadvantage of the clutch-bolt coupling is locked. The swinging of the lever a 65 not being secured in the locking position, which gives the spring c an additional tension which may easily lead to an unintentional uncoupling. leads to a strong upward movement of the clutch- A further disadvantage of these automatic trailbolt 1. When the latter reaches its lower (couer-couplings consists in the use of springs, which P n Position, the level 17 engages a notch (11 15 interferes with their safe working. The present f t e v r by the bolt 1 is Secured in go invention eliminates these disadvantages. its p i p nv The present invention consists substantially in The uncoupling is effected y turning the the usual (lower) disengaging lever of the lockhandle 0, whereby h l v b f d to i s ing device and the upper lever gripping the shaft is turned back to its original position, press- 2 clutch-bolt being connected one with another by n h lever d n t p it s n Fi 7 a spring, and by athird lever provided with a. lifting at the same time the clutch-bolt I from regulating handle being arranged between these the coupling eye It and keeping it in its lifted two levers, the one arm of the third lever being DOSitiOII under t e tension Of Spring laid against a notch of the upper lever engaging What I claim is: the clutch-bolt, when the lower position of the 1. In an automatic trailer coupling, a cou- 39 clutch-bolt is reached, whereby the clutch-bolt pling mem er, a lut h b lt, a verti a guide for is secured in its coupling position. The upper said bolt, a locking device for said bolt, a first lever is conveniently constructed as a fork and and a second lever forming part of said locking grips by means of its fork the clutch-bolt in latdevice, said second lever engaging said clutch eral indentations below a head appertaining to it. bolt, 3 pr g interconnecting d levers, a third 85 A form of construction of such anautomatic lever interposed between said first and second trailer-coupling is represented in levers, having an arm engaging a notch in said Fig, 1 in vertical s tion with the coupling second lever in the actuated position of the clutch o en d, bolt, and a regulating handle for said third Fig. 2 in vertical section with the coupling l v 9O locked, 2. An automatic trailer coupling according to Fi 3 i fr t i claim 1 and in which the clutch boltis provided In this form of construction m 1 a 1 mwith lateral indentations below its head and the Shaped box, which Serves t coupling eye k 1 end of said second lever is in the form of a fork 40 the trailer fork as bearing or guide. At the back engaging the clutch bolt indentations- 95 end of the box there penetrates into same through JOHANN ROCKINGER, J R- a slit the one arm of a two-armed lever a, the other arm of which engages the lower arm of a two-armed lever b. The shaft of the latter extends on one side beyond the bearing and is 100 provided here with a handle 0 (Fig. l and Fig. 3). The lever b rests above on the fork-shaped single-arm lever d, the fork of which grips round the clutch-bolt For this purpose the latter is indented on both sides below the head e and 1 5 flattened. The clutch-bolt j glides in a long guide, which prevents it from canting. The levers a and b are connected with each other by a coiled-spring'c and a similar safety spring insures a firm mutual tension. 1 

